understock
understock — noun
1. a state in which the amount available is too small for normal needs.
a state in which the amount available is too small for normal needs.
Winter storms caused understock of heating oil in several mountain towns.
understock of + needed supply
By Friday, understock of butter made Mei drop two cakes from the menu.
The clinic's understock of masks left the night staff sharing one open box.
Parents noticed the school's understock of art paper during the first week.
文法句型
understock of + item
understock in + place
用法筆記
Usually followed by 'of' plus the item that is missing. Distinguish from sense 2: sense 1 is a broad shortage, while sense 2 focuses on stock already kept by a farm, shop, or warehouse.
2. too little stock kept on hand in a shop, warehouse, or farm, especially too few
too little stock kept on hand in a shop, warehouse, or farm, especially too few goods or animals.
The ranch's understock of sheep left three hillside pens almost empty.
understock of + animals kept on hand
Store managers blamed the spring understock of rice cookers on late shipments.
Because of understock in the seed shed, Luis borrowed bags from a neighbor.
The pet shop's understock of fish tanks sent customers to the mall branch.
- low stock
plain phrase for not having enough goods left to sell
- thin inventory
more business-like and focuses on inventory records
- inventory shortage
formal phrase used in stock reports
- overstock
means having more goods or animals than needed
- full inventory
stresses that the normal amount is available
文法句型
understock of + goods/animals
understock in + store/farm/shed
用法筆記
Commonest in business or farming contexts where people talk about inventory already held in a place. Unlike sense 1, it points to stock on the premises rather than a general shortage in the wider area.
understock — verb
- understockpresent simple I / you / we / they
- understocks3rd person singular
- understocking-ing form
- understockedpast simple
1. to leave a shop, farm, or similar place with fewer goods or animals than it norm
to leave a shop, farm, or similar place with fewer goods or animals than it normally needs.
The chain understocked its city stores and sold out of fans before noon.
understock + store
Last spring, the farmer understocked the north field so the grass could recover.
understock + field with too few animals
A shipping delay understocked the hospital pharmacy with children's fever medicine.
During festival week, the toy aisle was understocked with puzzle sets and kites.
Before the school concert, Nikhil understocked the snack cart to save cash.
- undersupply
broader and can describe giving too little, not only inventory
- short-stock
close in meaning but less common in modern everyday use
文法句型
understock + place
understock + place + with + goods/animals
用法筆記
The object is usually the place or area holding the stock, and the item may be named with 'with'. It describes keeping less on hand than normal need requires, not merely receiving a delivery late.